Bezos Buys Into Liverpool, Barcelona Rushes for Rodri: While They Count Millions, Arsimi Settles It With a Goal in the 82nd Minute

Liverpool sold a piece of itself to the people from Amazon and Facebook

Fenway Sports Group has confirmed it is selling a minority stake in Liverpool to the consortium 1892 Holdings, with investors including Jeff Bezos of Amazon and the family of Eduardo Saverin, co-founder of Facebook. The club has not disclosed the sum, but The Athletic reports it amounts to around a third of Liverpool. British-Indian businessman Amit Bhatia becomes vice-chairman, while Bezos will not sit on the board - the money comes, the face does not. This is the largest external investment in the club since Fenway bought it in October 2010 from George Gillett and Tom Hicks. Fans already counting the millions for transfers should hold on: Liverpool has run a self-sustaining model for years, and football's financial rules do not let an owner simply pour money into players.

Barcelona gave City 48 hours for Rodri, and City wants 80 million

According to Spain's Sport, Barcelona has set a 48-hour deadline to close the transfer of Rodri and plans to present him to the crowd at the Joan Gamper trophy match. The problem is that Manchester City rejected the last offer of 60 million euros plus 10 million in bonuses and will not budge from 80 million. Rodri has just one year left on his contract and no shortage of arguments - he was central to Spain's World Cup win, played all eight matches and took the tournament's Golden Ball. He wants to go back to Spain, City knows it, and that is exactly why City is in no hurry. An ultimatum the other side reads as an invitation to wait is not an ultimatum, it is an offer.

City offers Chelsea 102.5 million pounds for Enzo Fernández

Manchester City has sent Chelsea an offer of 102.5 million pounds for Enzo Fernández, and Chelsea wants 120. The Argentine finished an excellent season with 16 goals and 10 assists and has a contract until 2032, which means Chelsea does not have to sell - but the player wants to leave, and that is usually a stronger argument than any contract. City are preparing the ground with the sale of Tijjani Reijnders and a possible Rodri departure. If Chelsea loses both manager Enzo Maresca and Fernández to the same rival in the same year, it will struggle to keep selling the story of a long-term project.

Arsimi opened the third round with a goal in the 82nd minute

In Gostivar, Arsimi beat Bashkimi 1:0 and took its first points of the season. The scorer was Colombian international Diego Contreras, who had come on as a substitute moments earlier, was played in by Mateo Sofijanoski and finished unstoppably from the right. The hosts were the better side and deservedly took the three points. While Barcelona and City negotiate over sums that could fund an entire league, here one name off the bench and one shot from the edge of the box decide a match. The gap in budget is astronomical, but the tension in the last ten minutes is identical.

Elmas is back on the radar of Napoli and Juventus

The future of Eljif Elmas is still unresolved, and Italian journalist Nicolò Schira has reported that the Macedonia international has been offered to two giants - Napoli and Juventus. There had previously been contact with Fiorentina too. Elmas spent last season on loan at Napoli, where he played 44 matches with one goal and four assists, and before that he also wore the Torino shirt in Italy. He began his career at Rabotnicki, moved on to Fenerbahçe, and is now waiting once more for somebody from the Apennines to send a concrete offer. Whether Macedonia will have a player in Serie A this season depends on how fast one of the two clubs moves from interest to an actual bid.